Paper towel package



Oct. 18, 1932.

J. C. SHERMAN PAPER TOWEL PACKAGE Filed Sept. 18. 1928 [@0672 @02 j w 572mm;

Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN C. SHERMAN, OF GOBHAM, MAINE, ASSIGNOB TO BROWN COMPANY, OF BERLIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE PAPER TOWEL PACKAGE Application filed September 18, 1928. Serial No. 806,728.

This invention relates to a dispensing device comprising a carton in which folded sheets may be securely contained easily arranged for dispensing or withdrawal directly from the carton as desired. It is particularly intended for use in connection with inter-folded sheets of paper towels or the like. The invention relates also to the combination with such a carton of a skeleton holder therefor. I shall describe the invention with particular reference to such use but the utility of the invention and the protecparticular use but includes all analogous and equivalent uses to which the invention might conceivably be adapted. The holder may be made of wire and be constructed as described in my application for patent Serial No. 55,- 264, filed September 9, 1925, for holder for paper towels and the like.

It is the object of this invention to provide a carton which may be of usual rectangular form but having the bottom and adjacent side portions so arranged as to permitthe formation of an opening through the carton so positioned that the folded sheets may be withdrawn therethrough as desired.

The holder provides means for supporting the carton, leaving free a part of the bottom 39 open as a passageway through which the sheets ma be removed as desired.

In the rawing, Figure 1 is a side view of the carton in the holder.

Figure 2 is an end view. 7 Figure 3 is a perspective showing the perforated portions at the end and sides broken away and the bottom partly opened. Figure 4 is a similar view showing the carton in condition for dispensation of its interleaved contents.

Like reference characters designate the same parts in all the figures.

The carton comprises a box-like receptacle 1 of cardboard or the like provided at one or both ends with a portion defined by weakening each end wall of the carton, as by perforations 2, along semi-circular lines extendd ing from the bottom edge 3 of the end wall to so bhat it may be easily broken away from the .exposes a small portion of the end edges of ends for a purpose which will later appear. Between the ends of the lines 2 the bottom of the carton is perforated or otherwise weakened as shown at 5, to define a strip 6 easily removable from the bottom of the carton with semicircular end portions 8, leaving an opening or slot 9 through which the paper 7 may be withdrawn. The semi-circular end portions 8 are not an essential feature of the mvention and may be omitted if desired. The provision of the semi-circular weakened lines 2 at one or both ends of the carton, tion which I claim for it is not limited to that however, facilitates the removal Of'thB strip 6 from the bottom wall of the carton since the portion 8 and the adjacent end portion of the strip 6 maybe grasped between the thumb and forefinger and torn away from the carton alongthe'weakened lines -2and 5. The

aperture left by the removal'of the tab 8 also the lowermost sheets in the package, so that when the supply of sheets is nearly exhausted,

.this fact becomes evident before the last ,sheetis removed.

In the preferred form of'skeletonholder shown in Y the drawing, it is desirable, order to avoid unnecessary friction, to;taper the vertical members, thus permitting; the easy insertion of the carton, and eliminating side pressure. The side portion 10 is there fore shown as tapered outwardly from the bottom 11 to the upper portion 12, thereby providing a support which securely holds the carton, without undesirable side pressure.

The wire holder is inclined downwardly at its center of width at the bottom in hopper formation so as to permit the bottom of\the carton to sag in a mating generally hopper form, this being facilitated by breakingthe ends and bottom of the carton apart as at 4. as previously described. When broken apart a pair of bottom flaps 15 are formed which may be bent outwardly to..-form a hopper having an open end, these flaps being supported by. the parallel bottom members- 13 of the wire support.

Where the carton is used for, holding and ispensing paper towels, it is preferable to provide an opening of substantial width for the withdrawal of the towels to reduce re- 1011 sistance to this withdrawal sufliciently to permit this to be done when'the towel has een weakened by contact of wet hands. It is also desirable in order further to avoid friction to make the withdrawal slot slightly wider than the spacing between the portions 13 of the wire support when such a support is used, so that these portions of the wire support protrude slightly beyond the edge of the bottom slot 9 of the carton. The sheets as withdrawn are thus drawn out over the smooth wires rather than over the rough edges where the opening in the bottom of the carton was made. The carton as thus constructed provides means for packing and transportation of folded sheets and directly from which they can readily be dispensed as desired.

I claim:

1. A carton for containing sheet material consisting of a container having a portion defined by a pair of weakened lines extending along one face from end to end thereof and for a short distance across adjacent faces and the juncture between said one face and said adjacent faces being also weakened to permit separation of said faces whereby when said portion has been removed said one face comprises spaced flaps which may be bent outwardly to hopper formation presenting an open end through which said material may be withdrawn.

2. .In combination with a skeleton supporting frame having side members flaring upwardly and a hopper shaped bottom having a pair of parallel members at its mouth, a

' rectangular carton supported within said frame and engaging said side members at their lower ends, said carton having portions defined by weakened lines to facilitate conforming of said portions to said hopper bottom and exposing an opening between said parallel members through which the contents of said carton may be removed.

3. A carton for containing sheet material, consisting of a container having a portion defined by a pair of weakened lines extending across one face thereof from end to end of said face, said container also having weakened lines along both end edges of said face whereby a strip of material may be torn from said face to form a slot of substantial width extending from one end to the other thereof and the remaining portion of said face may be bent outwardly to hopper formation widening said slot to facilitate the withdrawal of sheet material therethrough.

4. In combination with a skeleton frame having a pair of bottom members with parallel portions defining an elongated slot, a carton supported by said frame, said carton having portions resting on said members and spaced apart to form a slot registering with the slot between the parallel portions of said frame members and of sullicient width to present said parallel portions for contact with material being removed from said carton through said slots.

5. In combination with a carton having a pair of bottom flaps having adjacent edges parallel and spaced to form a slot extending from one end of the carton tothe other for the removal of contents therefrom, a skeleton frame supporting said carton, said frame having a pair of parallel members on which said parallel edges of the flaps rest, said parallel frame members extending laterally beyond the edges resting thereon to form a slot slightly narrower than the slot between said edges.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

JOHN C. SHERMAN. 

